The following notes draw on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for photographs to be included in machine-readable travel documents such as passports. These notes are to be read in conjunction with the following Australian Passport Photo Guide 2008 and the Photograph Guidelines web pages.

These notes will help in providing suitable photographs, so that applications for passports are not delayed by having to submit new photographs in the required format. For security reasons it is important that photographs meet Australian Passport Office (APO) standards, therefore these standards are mandatory.

Acceptable camera types

Correct capture devices are crucial to ensure enrolled images accurately match live scans at border control. Cameras must comply with the standards set out below in "Camera optical lens and settings requirements". Photographers must ensure accurate “perspective” is maintained as specified in "Camera optical lens and settings requirements". The following Camera types are acceptable.

• Instant Film Cameras
• Digital SLR Cameras (refer to Camera optical lens and settings requirements)
• 35 mm Film Cameras (refer to Camera optical lens and settings requirements)

Photograph requirements

The photograph must

• be taken no more than six months before lodgement of a passport application form
• be 45-50 mm in height and 35-40 mm in width (as per Australian Passport Photo Guide 2008)
• show a close up of the applicant’s head and the top of the shoulders such that the vertical size of the head (as measured from the bottom of the chin to the crown of the head) is between 32 and 36 mm
• be centred, clear and in sharp focus with no shadows
• be of high quality, with no ink marks or creases
• have appropriate brightness and contrast that show skin tones naturally

Photograph background

You must use a uniform background to provide a contrast to the face and hair.

Preferred background colour

• 18 percent grey

Other recommended background colours are

• light blue
• cream
• beige
• pale grey
• white

Camera optical lens and setting requirements

• 35mm SLR or DSLR cameras only (the camera’s image capture chip must replicate 35mm film plane image capture dimensions) with a fixed Optical Focal Length Lens (or variable lens locked into position) between 90 to 130mm (35mm film camera equivalent)
• a wide angle or telephoto view should not be used as this will result in a distorted facial image
• distance between lens and subject should be approximately 1.2 metres, this is to achieve an image of proper head size, with correct perspective and without distortion
• set the Aperture to maximise the depth of field, approximately f16 to f22
• set the Shutter Speed to ensure no camera shake – recommend 125th to 250th of a second (within Flash sync requirements)
• digital Zoom technology must not be used
• sharpening functions within the camera software must be turned off
• the image must be taken using "shadow less lighting". Background slave flash can be used to remove shadows. The lighting should not give the subject "red eyes"
• a head size template placed on the camera viewing screen must be used as a guide in obtaining the correct head size
• the camera should be set to capture the image as a TIF (preferable) or JPG at highest quality setting with minimum file compression

Digital camera resolution

• it is recommended that digital cameras should be at least 12 Mega pixels resolution (preferably higher)

Person

Expression and frame

The photograph must show the applicant

• with a neutral expression
• alone
• looking directly at the camera
• with no other person or object (including toys or furniture) visible
• with the mouth closed
• facing the camera and not looking over one shoulder (for example in portrait style photographs)
• with the head upright such that an imaginary line drawn between the centres of the eyes is parallel to the top edge of the picture
• their eyes open and clearly visible and without hair obscuring any part of the eyes
• with both edges of the face must be clearly visible

Head coverings

• Head coverings such as hats or caps are not permitted
• if an applicant wears a head covering for religious purposes, a photograph of the applicant wearing it will be accepted provided all facial features from bottom of the chin to top of the forehead (including both edges of the applicant's face) are clearly shown

Glasses

Even if applicants normally wear glasses, they do not need to wear them for a passport photograph. If they do:

• the photograph must show the eyes clearly
• there must be no flash reflection off the glasses
• tinted lenses are not permitted
• the frames must not cover any part of the eyes
• heavy framed glasses are not permitted

Facial piercings

Facial piercings such as nose rings and studs are acceptable provided

• they are worn permanently by the applicant
• they do not cause a reflection in the photograph

Hair and ears

• ears do not need to be visible in the photo
• most hair types (covering the complete frame) are acceptable providing the hair does not cover the face and the face/eyes are visible
• earrings are acceptable provided they do not obstruct the view of the edges of the face
• hair accessories are acceptable provided they do not obstruct the view of any facial feature

Infants

Infants under three years of age

Generally, attempts should be made to ensure that photographs of infants comply with all requirements. The APO, however, is prepared to relax some requirements for photographs of infants under the age of three.